Environmental Protection, Energy, and Climate Change Policies

Clean Power Plan

2014, 15 years for adjustment, many unhappy industries but environmentalists said it was important

Affordable Clean Energy rule

2019 from Trump, replaced CPP, more authority to states, no emissions targets

The Clean Air Act

one of the most complex and comprehensive government statutes, strengthened and weakened in different administrations, radical changes in 1970

1970 changes to CAA

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQSs), vehicle regulations, best available technology (BAT), State Implementation Plans (SIPs)

1977 amendments to CAA

backtracking, strengthened act on requirements for prevention of significant deterioration (PSD), established 3 classes of clean areas

3 classes of clean areas established by 1977 amendments to CAA

1) national parks and similar areas - air quality protected against any deterioration
2) act specified how much additional pollution was permitted
3) air pollution allowed to continue until it reached levels set by national standards

1990 amendments to CAA Title IV

new emission trading program to reduce sulfur dioxide

1990 amendments to CAA Title II

decrease automobile tailpipe emissions

1990 amendments to CAA Title I

plan to bring urban areas into compliance

1990 amendments to CAA Title V

new permit program to facilitate enforcement

Proposed reforms to CAA from Bush that were not implemented

Clear Sky Initiatives, Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), New Source Review (NSR)

Clean Water Act

amendment to Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA), surface water quality, deadlines for elimination of discharge and fishable/swimmable waters, very optimistic/unrealistic, states establish Water Quality Criteria (WQC) based on uses of bodies of water

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

NPDES, in CWA, compliance determined by self-reporting discharge

Clean Water Action Plan

Clinton, help to deal with nonpoint pollution

Total Maximum Daily Load

section 303(d) of 1972 CWA

Safe Drinking Water Act

1974, regular monitoring, slow progress in setting standards, strengthened in 1986, urge in 1990s to ease regulations, renewal in 1996 to make it more flexible

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

RCRA, amendments to Solid Waste Disposal Act and Resource Recovery Act, safe disposal, cradle-to-grave system, paper trail, state authority, slow to implement

Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA)

in RCRA, 1984, among most detailed and restrictive, underground storage tanks (USTs) regulated, increased disposal costs

since when have all 10 of the world’s warmest years occurred?

1998

Atomic Energy Acts

1946 & 1954, nuclear energy shielded from marketplace to ensure rapid growth

Major groups that promoted nuclear power

Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Department of Energy (DOE)

1957 Price-Anderson Act

subsidized nuclear energy

major oil spills

1989 Exxon Valdez (AK), 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon (Gulf of Mexico)

3 strategies of government for energy stuff

increase energy supplies, decrease public demand through conservation and efficiency, alter mix of fuels used via regulation, public education, and taxation

1970s energy policy

driven by concern for energy supply security and stability, OPEC imposed embargo (restriction/ban on trade, commerce, etc. within a specific country)

Energy Policy & Conservation Act

1975, established Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for motor vehicles

Carter & energy policy

secure and clean sources, National Energy Plan (little support), National Energy Act of 1978, Natural Gas Policy Act, Public Utilities Regulatory Policy Act (PURPA)

energy use per person in the U.S. is _______ that of Japan and the European Nations

more than double

Reagan & energy policy

reversal, free market, lower funding, removed solar panels

George H.W. Bush & energy policy

directed DOE to develop National Energy Strategy, balance energy production and conservation, opposed opening ANWR to oil & gas exploration, 1992 Energy Policy Act

Clinton & energy policy

addressed deficiencies in 1992 Energy Policy Act, executive orders, BTU (British Thermal Units) Tax & Gasoline - instant political failure, Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV, originally called Clean Car Initiative), subbed by Freedom Cooperative Automotive Research (FreedomCAR)

George W. Bush & energy policy

increase fossil fuels & nuclear, ease regulations, research “benefits” of oil, natural gas, coal, etc., drilling in ANWR

Obama & energy policy

new renewables, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - biggest energy bill in U.S. History, low-carbon agriculture, caps on emissions ,etc., no to Dakota Access Pipeline & Keystone XL pipeline

Trump & energy policy

reversal, says climate change is exaggerated

state and local energy initiatives

more promising, easier to build consensus, cannot substitute national action, CA Global Warming Solutions Act (2006), CA and AZ are leaders